Ringo Madlingozi has joined forces with his sons, vocalist Phila and emerging performer Thanda Music, for a deeply personal new EP, Uthando Ngundoqo, which translates to Love is Essential.
The release pays tribute to the lasting power of a mother’s love while confronting the grief that follows when she is gone. For Ringo, the music needed to come from an honest emotional place and speak to others living with the loss of people close to them.
“I needed to be truthful in the creative process and trust that the words and songs reflected the deepest emotions felt by many people who have lost someone they loved,” Ringo said. “I also had to select sounds, melodies and instruments that could bring comfort and calm.”
He said working together has strengthened the authentic bond between the three men. “It confirms the real love we have for each other,” he said. “It reminds us that there is light not just after the tunnel, but within it as well. Love will prevail, and we must keep repeating that until it is rooted in our hearts and our minds.”
While recording, Ringo asked Phila to approach him as a fellow musician rather than simply as his father. He explained that entering the studio means stepping fully into his creative identity, although he had to repeatedly remind himself that he was making an especially private and emotional record with his sons.
Ringo also reflected on how his mother’s death exposed hidden dynamics and false behaviour within the family. He said the experience differed from losing his sister and father, even though all three bereavements occurred over the course of three consecutive years.
Phila, who has built his own entertainment career as both an actor and singer, believes the EP arrives at the right moment to introduce a new generation of Madlingozis to listeners.
“I have always wanted to make music with my dad,” Phila said. “I knew that once the moment was right, we would create something honest that people could connect with. Having my younger brother involved makes it even more special.”
Thando said it was an honour to collaborate with such an influential figure, describing the experience as magical and something he never imagined could happen.
He also drew from his own experience of losing his mother while still young. “At the time, I felt as if my whole world was coming to an end,” he said. “Now I understand what happened and the ways people around me changed.”
Calling it a transformative experience, Thando said his greatest lesson came from creating under pressure alongside an icon. He said the song required a great deal from him, and that his father taught him to communicate his feelings in the clearest, simplest way possible, even when doing so was challenging.
